The new Vision Metron TFE aero extensions take shape on today’s final time trial of the 2020 Tour de France, and they’re a sight. Featuring a wild one-piece design that incorporates the arm rest into the extensions.
They say it’s 8% faster than their standard extension, which is good for about 9.4 seconds off a 40km time trial. Which was good enough for five different teams to choose it for their race bikes.
The video shows its versatility and options. Construction is full carbon fiber, and it uses stackable spacers to let riders adjust their cockpit height. The standout feature is their one-piece carbon construction for each arm. Rather than have separate, bolt-on padded arm rest cups, these integrate them directly into the design.
This saves weight from hardware, as does the elimination of adjustable lengths for the extensions. So, they come in very light. And in multiple sizes, so you can still get the right one for your forearm length.
Two models are available, the Pro (shown on left) and the WA. They weigh the same, but use different shaping for the cups and extensions.
Metron TFE WA specs:
• Length: 250mm (Small), 275mm (Medium), 300mm (Large)
• Weight: 128g (size medium, pair)
Metron TFE PRO specs
• Length: 285mm (Small), 305mm (Medium), 325mm (Large)
• Weight: 128 grams (size medium, pair)
Pricing and availability are TBA.
Prototype Metron SL wheels for the TT
Giving their teams another advantage are custom built wheels using the Metron 40 SL and Metron 55 SL wheels. They’re being built with steel spokes that have a greater percentage of carbon, making them stiffer. And they’ve swapped the brass nipples for Ergal (a special alloy), which drops 50g of rotational weight at the outside of the wheel. This brings them down to an impressive 1288g (SL 40) and 1385g (SL 55), though those are for the rim brake versions…not disc.
While you and I won’t be able to buy the wheels with those hop ups, we can take advantage of the stock Metron SL wheels’ new, rounder aerodynamic profile and wider 19mm internal width (up from 15-17mm on prior models). This, along with tubeless compatibility, makes them ready for today’s wider, Road Tubeless tires. FSA says they’re optimized for 700×28 tires, which seems to be the sweet spot for most of us these days.
The wheel’s numerical names indicate rim depth, and they’re built with FSA’s PRA (Preload Reduction Assembly) design. For comparison to the special pro-only wheels, the stock ones come in at 1,560g (40 SL disc brake) and 1,690g (55 SL, disc brake)…and it’s worth noting that the disc brake models are heavier than the rim brake models by about 110g, with that extra weight sitting at the hubs.
FSA says these wheels, along with the 30mm depth option, are good for gravel and cyclocross, too…not just road.
Metron TFW disc rear wheel
Spotted aboard Bahrain-McLaren team bikes (alongside that new Muc-Off LOPS) is the all-new Metron TFW rear disc wheel. Not only is it full carbon and available in a tubeless-ready version (which the riders will be racing on, BTW), it gets a special paint that adds just 4g, but also improves the aerodynamics.
It’s handbuilt in Italy and comes in at a respectable 945g. Available aftermarket in tubeless clincher and tubular varieties, price TBA.
